Toss Tenure

Manny is at the Stove

Good Morning, Breakfastpoppers. Today is Monday, April 23, 2018. Our pious friend, Mantis Manny, is in the kitchen baking carrot cake muffins for our enjoyment. I am at the bar preparing Irish coffees to add to the culinary experience. Manny has asked for the pleasure of your company this morning. The Fresno State professor who trashed Barbara Bush angered Manny along with most normal caring citizens of our nation and the world. Manny has some thoughts about this professor and others like her who are protected by the inane practice of extending tenure. Please join Manny and me this morning to enjoy the muffins and discuss the subject of tenure. We hope to see you soon. I'll leave the door open.

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A Job for Life

Thanks so much for joining us this morning. Pop was kind enough to purchase all the ingredients for the muffins and coffees. She is quite generous with her money even though she doesn't have a job guaranteed for life. For that matter, neither do I. At any moment an exterminator might come along and blow me away. There simply aren't any guarantees in life, except if you are a teacher. How does that make sense?

Fresno State professor Randa Jarrar tweeted a repulsive remark about the late Barbara Bush calling her a "rascist." She expressed delight upon her passing and has since remained completely unapologetic about her tasteless remarks. She also pointed out that she has no worries about losing her job, because she is tenured. Now that's a real problem for me. In the real world, you get to keep your job based upon your performance. Corporate America doesn't guarantee anyone's position. Slack off and you just might be on the unemployment line. Not so for teachers. Once they teach for a few years they are granted tenure which is a status that indicates that their position is permanent. A school district or university can't legally fire a tenured teacher without substantial proof that the teacher is no longer fit to teach for reasons of incompetence, insubordination, immorality, moral turpitude or neglect of duty. The process is long, expensive, arduous and almost never happens. Teachers who have tenured status are good to go forever and a day. The practice ensures that awful teachers keep their jobs, and students and parents have to cope with the problem.

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Students Pay the Price

The practice of tenure was originally established at religious schools to protect academic freedom. That took place in the 1700s, but since then tenure has turned into an unrealistic and unbelievable benefit for those in the teaching profession. The practice of tenure is impacting our student, because less than gifted teachers are imparting knowledge in less than effective ways. There is no standard of excellence when it comes to a tenured teacher. Do an amazing job or an uninspiring job and all things are equal. It's the students who get the short end of the stick, never the teacher. It also fosters old ideas and methods of teaching. If you know you have a job for life, the incentive to grow and improve gets lost in the shuffle. Tenure also prevents schools from hiring more teachers in up and coming fields, because their budgets must cover the cost of tenured teachers whose subject areas are in less demand. Tenure becomes the professional equivalent of snapping handcuffs on education. The integrity of the education system suffers because of an outdated concept.

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Adding Insult to Injury

A perfect example of the insanity of tenure in the modern world is evidenced in New York City. Teachers who are not deemed fit to teach for a myriad of reasons come to a place everyday called the ":Rubber Room." They spend their days in the company of other incompetent teachers accruing their pensions and sick benefits. The system doesn't know how to fire them, so instead they sit and sit and sit at taxpayer's expense. Tenure is outdated, unnecessary, stifling for education and it often results in situations just like in New York. Teachers who would lose their jobs in a saner world still receive benefits, salaries and pensions. Some of those in the 'Rubber Room" have been accused of molesting students, but yet they receive protection under a broken system. There has to be a better way.

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A Better Way Forward

The practice of granting tenure has to disbanded if our education system is to become vibrant again. We need to be flexible when it comes to education. We need to explore new avenues in an ever-changing world. We can't do any of this if our hands are tied for life by being forced to employ teachers who are less than inspiring and who haven't kept up with the times. Perhaps we should follow the lead of the business world. Teachers who display a gift for teaching could be granted contracts for a specific period of time. The desire to have those contracts renewed would add knew life to a deadened system which doesn't demand excellence. The University of Minnesota did away with tenure 20 years ago. The staff has since been on one-year rolling contracts. Contracts, whether long term or short the,would give teachers a chance to prove themselves. Once their performance has been shown to meet the needs of the school and the students, the contract could be renewed for a longer period of time.

In any case, something needs to be done. We need to get rid of tenure and place the teaching profession in the real world where excellence is rewarded with raises and promotions. Anything would be better than what we have now. What have we got to lose?

Manny's Song

The moment I wake up

Before I stretch my wings

I say a little prayer for you...

Questions & Answers

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sending

AUTHOR

breakfastpop

2 years ago

Good Morning AB,

Count me in!

A B Williams

2 years agofrom Central Florida

Oh I've noticed!

I will be taking my Tea Party gear out of the mothballs, if someone doesn't go to jail over this "hot mess", I will head back to D.C. and petition Congress for a redress of {mulitiple} grievances!

AUTHOR

breakfastpop

2 years ago

Good Morning AB,

Have you noticed that nobody who deserves to be fired or jailed gets what they deserve. Hillary is a prime example. Al Sharpton has been causing harm and angst for decades. The list grows ever longer now with the obvious corruption at the highest levels in the FBI and the Justice Department. What a hot mess! See you at the Inn, AB

A B Williams

2 years agofrom Central Florida

The President of Fresno State University has issued a statement regarding the 'Professor'.

Although the school is embarrassed by her conduct, she will keep her job.

My interpretation:

There are many young minds which still need corrupting, she is not going anywhere! :(

AUTHOR

breakfastpop

2 years ago

Good Morning Jennifer,

It is my understanding that letters are pouring in from all over demanding that the school consider firing her. Her statements were vile, and I am quite sure that she has crossed the line before. Tenure is, as you stated, outdated. It has to go the way of the buggy. See you at the Inn.

AUTHOR

breakfastpop

2 years ago

Good Morning brad,

Absolutely. Imagine how quickly things could get done if workers were held accountable. The VA is a perfect tragic example of prolonged incompetence. See you at the Inn, brad.

Jennifer

2 years ago

You are so right about this. It could be as small and a K-8 School straight up to a huge university. If effects all schools!!!!

If you think your guaranteed a job you get can get lazy or careless, it’s just human nature. It’s an outdated idea and really needs to

Change. We want fresh, motivated, and most importantly intelligent people educated our future. That discusting woman would not have lasted a day if that system was not in place. So scary that people like that can get jobs in education in the first place.

Brad

2 years ago

Pop

Sounds good, and let us throw in all the government workers. As public Servants they get treated like Masters.

AUTHOR

breakfastpop

2 years ago

Dear brad,

It's time teachers entered the real world. It's also time that Congress did too!

Brad

2 years ago

Pop

I agree, tenure is no better than a lifetime product warranty, when that product fails, and no longer produces the standard for the product, it needs to be replaced.

AUTHOR

breakfastpop

2 years ago

Good Morning maven,

I have to thank you for your input. I have decided to change Manny's name to Manuella. I love it and so does she!!! Head for the Inn when you can. Drinks are on me!

AUTHOR

breakfastpop

2 years ago

Good Morning Pino,

No problem. Manny forgives you and so do I!

maven101

2 years agofrom Northern Arizona

Pino and Pop...

Manny has to be a girl...That Carrot Cake was fabulous...Besides, Manny is short for Manuella...

Pino Krisio

2 years ago

POP: I have re-read your blog and concede that you have not mentioned that Manny is a girl. I guess Manny was talking about you. However, I did not have any wine at the time, so I am not responsible for my actions. I now have wine because I have been at the Inn.......

AUTHOR

breakfastpop

2 years ago

Dear Pino,

I have had so many awful teachers over the years. I got by in spite of them, because I taught myself. We had better change things when it comes to education, and it should happen quickly. Our nation s falling behind when compared to other countries. I'll meet you at the Inn. What makes you think Manny is a girl?

AUTHOR

breakfastpop

2 years ago

Dear Lori,

The professor is an angry loser in my book. Her students cannot be benefitting from her attitude. She is probably an instrument of brainwashing. The equally disgusting thing is that so many of her peers came to her defense. Yes, we do have free speech in our country, but there is also something called decency and compassion. She lacks both. Head for the Inn, Lori. I'll meet you there.

AUTHOR

breakfastpop

2 years ago

Dear maven,

I agree, come and take them! Our children will be better off without teachers who no longer give a damn about anything. The same is true of all of us, if we could get rid of the hack politicians who are in it for the perks and nothing else.we just might get important things done, Head for the Inn, maven. I'll save you a seat.

Lori Colbo

2 years agofrom Pacific Northwest

I was shocked by her words and attitude. She also bragged about her $100,000 yearly income. We live in a country where we are blessed to have freedom of speech. So while I deplore what she said, she has the right to say it and I can enjoy expressing myself equaly.. it's a.moral, character problem with people like her.

If Hillary or Obama met their end I would not rejoice and call down curses on their families.

maven101

2 years agofrom Northern Arizona

Outrageous behavior, inflammatory commentary, moral outrage, all strive for "Viralness"...(I just invented a new word)...Going viral is the goal of folks that suffer from attention deficit disorder (in this instance, not getting enough attention to their pathetic lives)...Consider the source and ignore...

I agree with Jack; Term limits for politicians...A great place to start...However, tenure is tightly bound with legal protections...The cost to terminate a teacher is prohibitive, on purpose...Teacher's unions have the same guiding principle that Teamsters unions have: Work no faster than the slowest worker or face consequences...With teachers, incompetence and utter lack of knowledge of the subject matter they were hired to teach is secondary to preservation of the status quo...If teachers were hired or fired based on merit the teacher's unions would lose half of their paying members...

Tenure is entrenched in our educational system, a cancer that will eat away at our unique American social structure, slowly devouring our freedoms and social values...

I'm ready for Pop's Irish coffee, and Manny's Carrot Cake...Maybe if I have enough of Pop's libation I'll get in a better mood...In the meantime, Molon Labe.!!!

AUTHOR

breakfastpop

2 years ago

Good Morning Paula,

I love your enthusiasm. Let's March! But first, meet me at the Inn.

Paula

2 years agofrom UpstateWestern,New York

AGREED 100%. Do away with Tenure for teachers. Add Politicians to this demolition ! TERM limits! There should have been term limits from day one...always! Make this happen. No tenure. Jobs, income/benefits/bonuses based upon performance. No one shall be deemed "untouchable,"

The time is now.

AUTHOR

breakfastpop

2 years ago

Good Morning AB,

I wonder if her students are appalled by her behavior. Her colleagues didn't seem to be. In fact, they went overboard in their support of her rotten remarks. Apparently, indoctrination of our nation's children is a growing movement. We had better do something about it before it's too late. Actually, it may already be too late. See you at the Inn. It's a much better environment for clear thinking people.

I too agree that most politicians need to go, and I strongly supporter term limits. Should we throw a party to celebrate our unity?

A B Williams

2 years agofrom Central Florida

I have to wonder what this 'Professor' was doing around the time Barbara Bush was loving on all shades of beautiful HIV babies, showing everyone that all babies matter!

Leftists, tenured or not, live in a world created in their own minds, not in reality. What makes 'Professors' like her dangerous...are the long periods of indoctrination time spent with the young and impressionable.

Bill Holland

2 years agofrom Olympia, WA

Write this date down....I am in total agreement. I was a teacher, and there are quite a few teachers who need to go...now....no return...period!!! Of course, I think the same of all politicians...term limits for them all.

AUTHOR

breakfastpop

2 years ago

Good Morning Jack,

Our education system hangs in the balance. We really need to make big changes if we are going to compete in this complicated world. Right now our students aren't prepared for the real world. By the time they leave college most of them are spoiled and directionless.

Jack Lee

2 years agofrom Yorktown NY

You are right of course. It applies to all professions where a guarenteed job is an invitation for abuse and worse. A merit based system is the way to go. How to implement such a system is up for debate.

AUTHOR

breakfastpop

2 years ago

Good Morning Tom,

You are right, of course. What was also so disgusting was the amount of support this loser received from her colleagues. See you at the Inn, Tom.

Tom Whitworth

2 years agofrom Moundsville, WV

Pop and Manny,

If a conservative professor (assuming one can be found) had made a similar statement about a dead lefty, the Libs would have been screaming,"Hate speech!". At the very least the definition of tenure must be radically modified..

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